In light of a recent archaeological survey at Shelter Point Park on Texada Island, the Powell River Regional District committee of the whole has recommended to the regional board that reconstruction of the caretaker’s home and concession stand, destroyed by fire on September 4, 2012, should proceed with absolute discretion.
In an archaeological impact assessment of the area, archaeologist Colleen Parsley, of Aquilla Archaeology, identified the presence of cultural remains and identified a large permanent village location likely dating to 3,300 years. The report calls the find extensive and one of the largest on the central and south coast to date, and provides the basis for assigning the highest scientific significance to the site.
The regional district originally requested the archaeological impact assessment due to the fact the park is a known archaeological location that was originally recorded in 1971. At that time, it was estimated that the site was 50 by 20 metres. After the assessment, this area was increased to 442 by 175 metres.
More than 50 per cent of the subsurface shovel tests and 40 per cent of the backhoe tests were positive for subsurface cultural material. A total of 279 stone tools, 195 remains of animals and 15 historic artifacts were collected during the study. One culturally modified tree was positively identified and two additional trees with modifications of unknown age were noted.
The report also indicates that there is “rare evidence of an estimated six to 12 well-developed house depressions and mounds, representing former habitation structures,” in the northern section of the park.
The study indicates that current and historic uses of the study area have significantly impacted the site and that the regional district’s proposed development plans to rebuild the structures that were lost to fire will “significantly further impact portions of the archaeological site.” Further, the report advises that any trenching required for the installation of a new sewer line may “conflict with possibly intact and potentially the oldest occupations of the site.”
Two options for replacing the structures that were lost to fire were provided in the study. Both require that further excavation work be done, including the completion of detailed mapping. The first option is to relocate the caretaker home and concession outside of the updated archaeological site boundary. If the regional district chooses to locate the facilities in the proposed location, the second option recommends digging excavation units before construction begins. If any archaeological material is encountered, work should stop and the archaeology branch and respective first nations communities should be contacted immediately.
In light of the impact assessment, Texada Director Dave Murphy recommended that no construction take place outside the previously existing structures because they suspect beyond reasonable doubt that they will find further evidence of cultural remains where any further digging for the purpose of reconstruction might be undertaken.
A copy of the archaeological report is available here.
